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When Last Week Tonight hostJohn Oliver interrogated Dustin Hoffman in December about sexual misconduct allegations that were made against him, the exchange lasted an excruciating 20 minutes as Hoffman haughtily dismissed the relevance of the questions at a Q&A celebrating the anniversary of Wag the Dog.

Was Oliver surprised by Hoffman’s reaction?

“I was surprised that he showed up in the first place,” Oliver says, speaking to a small room of press promoting the fifth season of Last Week Tonight, which launches Sunday night on HBO.

Oliver’s questioning took place at a Tribeca Film panel celebrating the 20th anniversary of Wag the Dog that happened to take place in the wake of allegations that Hoffman had groped and made inappropriate comments to a 17-year-old intern on the 1985 set of the TV movie Death of a Salesman.

“This is something we’re going to have to talk about because…it’s hanging in the air,” Oliver said, broaching the conversation at the time.

Hoffman was clearly perturbed that the scandal was brought up, telling Oliver, “It’s hanging in the air?” Hoffman said. “From a few things you’ve read, you’ve made an incredible assumption about me,” he noted, adding sarcastically, “You’ve made the case better than anyone else can. I’m guilty.”